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A “groundbreaking” atomic clock built at a top-secret UK laboratory will make military operations safer for years through experimental quantum technology, the country’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has claimed.
Developed at the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), the quantum clock has been hailed as a leap forward in improving intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance by reducing reliance on GPS technology, which can be intercepted and intercepted by adversaries. .
In a statement on Thursday, the MoD hailed the first-of-its-kind UK-made device that could be deployed in military operations over the next five years. will be used. He claims that the accuracy of the clock is so good that it will lose less than a second in billions of years, allowing scientists to measure time on an unprecedented scale. There will be an opportunity to measure.
“Integrating the latest technology into existing capabilities exemplifies the Government’s commitment to innovation in the defense sector, and to ensuring our armed forces have the best kit to keep us strong at home and abroad. is available,” said Maria Eagle, Minister of Defense Procurement and Acquisitions. Industry.
“The trial of this emerging, ground-breaking technology can not only strengthen our operational capability, but also drive growth in industry, strengthen our science sector and support high-skilled jobs,” he said. can.”
The MoD, through DSTL, claims to have invested over GBP 28 million to shape UK research and development to gain an early adopter advantage of such technologies.
The trial is the first time that DSTL has tested a UK-built optical atomic clock outside the laboratory, offering a new capability beyond the current Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
According to DSTL, GNSS threats are a recognized national security threat, with atomic clock technology capable of providing a stable autonomous control capability to maintain accurate time for critical operations. .
“This first trial of a modern atomic clock represents a significant achievement in the UK’s quantum technology capabilities. The data collected will not only shape future defense efforts, but is also a signal to industry and academia that We are serious about exploring quantum technologies for secure and flexible operational advantage,” said Paul Hollenhead, chief executive of DSTL.
The trial was part of the Demonstration of Advanced Timing Apparatus (DATA) initiative, a planned series of experiments designed to understand the performance and limitations of quantum clocks, with potential for flexibility in military and national infrastructure. There are benefits.
Advanced watches like this nuclear device are intended to support current and future defense capabilities.
“Applications of quantum clocks extend beyond precise timekeeping. Further improvements in GPS accuracy could transform global navigation systems, aiding everything from satellite communications to aircraft navigation,” said the MoD.
“In addition, further research will look at reducing the size of the technology to allow mass manufacturing and miniaturization, leading to a wide range of applications, such as military vehicle and aircraft use.”
Some of the key benefits of the technology include enabling more accurate and independent navigation systems, reducing reliance on GPS satellites, which are prone to jamming or destruction in conflict situations. Secure communications systems, such as encrypted military networks, depend on highly synchronized timekeeping. Increasing the accuracy of advanced weapon systems, such as guided missiles, which rely on precise timing to calculate velocity and coordinate strikes. and allows the UK Armed Forces to gain an advantage over adversaries in time-critical operations, particularly in areas such as cyber warfare, where milliseconds can make a difference.
The trial involved key partners including Infleqtion (UK), Aquark Technologies, HCD Research and Imperial College London as well as in-house technology developed at Dstl’s Quantum Laboratory. These prototype frequency standards were tested in collaboration with the Royal Navy’s Office of the Chief Technical Officer and the Army Futures Team at BattleLab.
Commander Matt Steele, future technology officer at the Royal Navy’s Office of the Chief Technical Officer, added: “The Navy has been looking at quantum technologies for many years and is very excited to see the physics and engineering challenges it has. No longer a scientific hypothesis but now reaching the pinnacle of reality.” “Over the next few years, the ability to effectively operate, survive, and navigate and remain lethal using quantum with GPS will secure an operational advantage.”
(Other than the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
